Defending due process and standard animal husbandry practices in the Pacific Northwest.

On November 10, 2011, Kitsap Humane Society (which is an animal advocacy and adoption agency, and also serves as animal control law enforcement under contract to Kitsap County and various cities) conducted a raid on the Bailey family farm in Olalla, WA.Immediately many people noticed that the photos of the animals and the quotes in the media about the condition of the animals and the reasons they were removed did not fit with the allegations of supposed animal cruelty. Even more concerning, though, was the evidence of a complete lack of due process.

The Justice for Pacific Northwest Farmers (Justice4PNW) team was quickly formed, with the goal to be a resource for the Olalla family and any other farmers and animal owners in the Pacific Northwest facing a lack of due process, as well as hopefully being able to offer practical help where needed. Many people across a span of thousands of miles helped with research, support, fundraising and publicity.

We have since been in touch with several other small farmers and breeders who have been denied due process. In some cases farmers are accused of being hoarders simply because they have a quantity and variety of animals normal for a farm situation. They may be accused of animal cruelty by people who do not have the knowledge and expertise to judge the management and condition of livestock.

While most animal rescue and control personnel have the best of intentions and truly care about animals, often they are not properly trained in things like how to body score livestock, what health issues are standard for farmers to treat at home with remedies readily available at feed stores, the type and amount of feed that is standard and appropriate for various types of farm animals, and what a real working small farm looks like (hint: not like Disney or Hollywood portrayals of farms).

In many cases the agencies do not have the knowledge, resources or facilities to handle and care for livestock, so sometimes animals are removed from homes where they are receiving adequate and knowledgeable care; into hands where they are transported, housed and cared for in ways inappropriate and even potentially harmful for the type of animal.

Often the very people in charge of making the decision whether to confiscate the animals are the same organization that will profit (in donations, media coverage, adoption fees, grants based on the number of animals helped, etc.) from the removal of the animals. This creates a conflict of interest.

We hope to facilitate the improvement of laws and procedures so that animal control and rescue agencies can effectively address situations where animals are truly being abused or severely, chronically neglected; while avoiding taxing public resources and violating farmers' rights in situations where it is not necessary.

Part of our hope is to eventually build a network of people and resources who can provide short-term help and advice for farmers and animal owners who are truly trying to do their best for their animals but are struggling. If people would offer a helping hand to their neighbors (and/or take the time to learn what they are doing to care for their animals) before judging them and calling authorities, in many situations the necessity of involving animal control could be avoided in the first place.

Even in cases where it truly is necessary for authorities to intervene, due process needs to be followed and the law needs to be upheld.

We feel that, in cases where due process is ignored or animals are inappropriately confiscated, law enforcement must be held responsible. If animal owners are not found guilty of cruelty, they need to have their animals returned or be reimbursed for them. Simply accusing someone of an unproven crime does not give anyone the right to permanently take away or destroy a person's property.

We would also like to ensure that, if it turns out that animals were confiscated inappropriately, the confiscating agency and not the animals' owner pays the cost of that confiscation.

If you would like to help, please contact the Justice4PNW team or browse the site to see what cases we are currently gathering funds and information to help with, and how you can contribute.

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